TISSUE LEVEL OF

ORGANIZATION
CHAPTER 4
WHAT IS A TISSUE?
A tissue is a group of cells that has
common origin and function together to carry
out specialized activities.
Hard (bone), Semi solid (fat) or liquid
(blood)
 Histology is the science that deals with
the study of tissues.
Pathologist is specialized in laboratory
studies of cells and tissue for diagnoses.
 4 TYPES OF TISSUES
Epithelial
Connective
Muscular
Nervous
 EPITHELIAL

• Covers body surfaces and lines hollow

organs, body cavities, duct and forms
glands.
 CONNECTIVE
• Protects, Supports, and Binds organs.
• Stores energy as fat, Provides
Immunity.
 MUSCULAR

• Generates the Physical force needed to

make body structures move and generate
body heat.
 NERVOUS
•Detect changes in body and
responds by generating nerve
impulses.
 DEVELOPMENT OF TISSUES
• Tissues of the body develop from three primary germ
layers:
• Ectoderm , Endoderm and Mesoderm
• Epithelial tissues develop from all three germ layers.
• All connective tissue and most muscle tissues drive
from mesoderm
• Nervous tissue develops from ectoderm.
 CELL JUNCTIONS

• Contact points between the plasma

membranes of tissue cells
 5 MOST COMMON TYPES :
Tight Junctions
Adherens Junctions
Desmosomes
Hemidesmosomes
Gap Junctions
 TIGHT JUNCTIONS
• Web-like strands of transmembrane proteins.
• Fuse cells together
• Seal off passageways between adjacent cells
• Common in Epithelial tissues of the stomach,
intestines, and urinary bladder.
• Help to retard the passage of substance
between cells and leaking into the blood or
surrounding tissues.
 ADHERENS JUNCTION
• Dense layer of proteins called Plaque.
• Resist respiration of cells during contractile activities
• Located inside of the plasma membrane attached to
both membrane proteins and microfilaments of the
cytoskeleton
 ADHERENS JUNCTION
• Transmembrane
glycoproteins called
Cadherins insert into the
plaque and joins cells
• In epithelial cells, Adhesion
belts encircle the cell.
 DESMOSOMES
• Contain plaque and cadherins that extends
into the intercellular space to attach
adjacent cells together
• Desmosome plaque attaches to
intermediate filaments that contain protein
keratin
• Prevent epidermal cells from separating
under tension and cardiac muscles cells
from pulling apart during contraction
 HEMIDESMOSOMES
• Resemble half of the desmosome
• Do not link adjacent cells basement
membrane
• Contains transmembrane glycoprotein
Integrin
• Integrins attached to intermediate filaments and
the protein Laminin present in the basement
membrane.
 GAP JOINTS
• Connect neighboring cells via tiny fluid-
filled tunnels called Connexons
• Contain membrane proteins called
connexins
• Plasma membranes of gap junctions are
separated by a very narrow intercellular
gap (space)
• Communication of cells within a tissue
 EPITHELIAL TISSUES
• Epithelial tissue consists of cells arranged in
continuous sheets, in either single or multiple layers
• Closely packaged and held tightly together
• Covering and lining of the body
• Free surface
 EPITHELIAL TISSUES
3 major functions:
1. Selective barrier that regulates the movement of
materials in and out of the body
2. Secretory surfaces that release products onto the free
surface
3. Protective surfaces against the environment
 GENERAL FEATURES OF
EPITHELIAL CELLS
Surfaces of epithelial cells differ in structure and have
specialized functions
 Apical (free) Surfaces
Faces the body surface, body cavity, lumen, or duct
Lateral surfaces
Faces adjacent cells
Basal surface
Opposite of apical layer and adhere to extracellular materials
 GENERAL FEATURES OF
EPITHELIAL CELLS
 Basement membrane
Thin double extracellular layer that serves as the point of attachment and
support for overlying epithelial tissue
 Basal Lamina
Closer to and secreted by the epithelial cells
Contain laminin, collagen, glycoproteins, and proteoglycans
 Reticular Lamina
Closer to the underlying connective tissue
Contains collagen secreted by the connective tissue cells
 EPITHELIAL TISSUES
• Own nerve supply
• AVASCULAR or lacks its own blood supply
• Blood vessels in the connective tissue bring in nutrients and
eliminates waste
• High Rate of cell division for renew and repair
• Numerous roles in the body (i.e. protection and filtration)
 EPITHELIAL TISSUES
Covering and Lining Epithelium
Outer covering of skin and some internal organs.
Glandular Epithelium
Secreting portion of glands (thyroid, adrenal, and
sweat glands)
COVERING AND LINING
 Normally classified
according to :

Arrangement of
cells into layers
Shapes of cells
 COVERING AND LINING

• Arrangement of cells in layers

• Consist of 1 or more layers depending on
function
 COVERING AND LINING
 Simple Epithelium
Single Layer of cells the function in diffusion, osmosis, filtration, secretion or absorption
 Pseudostratified Epithelium
Appear to have multiple layers because cell nuclei at different levels
All cells do not reach the apical surface
 Stratified Epithelium
Two or more layers of cells that protect underlying tissues in areas of wear and tear
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF COVERING
AND LINING
Cells vary in shape depending on their function
Squamous
Thin cells, arranged like floor tiles
Allows for rapid passage of substance
Cuboidal
As tall as they are wide, shaped like cubes or hexagons
May have microvilli
Function in secretion or absorption
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF COVERING
AND LINING
 Columnar
Much taller than they are wide, like columns
May have cilia or microvilli
Specialized function for secretion and absorption
Transitional
cells change shape, transition for flat to cuboidal
Organs such as urinary bladder stretch to larger size and collapse
to a smaller size
 SIMPLE EPITHELIUM
Simple Squamous
Simple Cuboidal
Simple columnar
Pseudostratified columnar
 CONNECTIVE TISSUE

Most abundant and widely distributed tissues in the body

Numerous functions:
Binds tissues together
Supports and strengthen tissue
Protects and insulates internal organs
Compartmentalize and transport
Energy reserves and immune responses
 CHARACTERISTICS OF
CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Three characteristics of Connective Tissue
Extra cellular matrix
Fibers
Cells of Various types
 EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX OF
CONNECTIVE TISSUE

Extracellular matrix is the material located

between cells
Consist of protein fibers and ground substance
Connective tissue is highly vascular
 CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
Fibroblasts- Secrets fibers and components of ground substance
Adipocytes (fat cells)-Store triglycerides (fat)
Mast Cells- Produce histamine
White blood cells- Immune response and Neutrophil and Eosinophils
Macrophages – Engulf bacteria and cellular debris by
phagocytosis
Plasma Cells- Secrete antibodies
 CONNECTIVE TISSUE
EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX
 Ground Substance
 Between Cells and Fibers (Fluid, Semifluid, Gelatinous or calcified)
 Functions to support and bind cells, store water and allow exchange between blood
and cells
 Complex combination of proteins
 Fibers
 Collagen Fibers
 Elastic Fibers
 Reticular Fibers
 CLASSIFICATION OF CONNECTIVE
TISSUES
Embryonic connective tissue
 Mesenchyme and mucous connective tissue
Mature connective tissues
 Loose connective tissue
 Dense Connective tissue
 Cartilage
 Bone tissue
 Liquid connective tissue
 EPITHELIAL MEMBRANES
Mucous Membranes
Lines a body cavity that opens directly to the exterior
Epithelial layer is important for the body’s defense
against pathogens
Connective tissue layer is areolar connective tissue and
is called Lamina Propria.
 EPITHELIAL MEMBRANES

Serous Membranes or Serosa

 Lines a body cavity that does not open directly to the
exterior . Also covers the organs that lie within the cavity
 Consist of areolar connective tissue covered by
mesothelium that secrete a serous fluid for lubrication.
EPITHELIAL MEMBRANES : MUCOUS
MEMBRANES
Membranes are flat sheets of pliable tissue that cover or
line a part of the body.
Epithelial membranes are a combination of an epithelial
layer and an underlying connective tissue layer
Synovial membranes lines joints and contains
connective tissue but not epithelium
 MUSCULAR TISSUE
Consists of elongated cells called muscle fibers
or myocytes
 Cells use ATP to generate force
 Several functions of muscle tissue
 Classified into 3 types: Skeletal, Cardiac, and
Smooth muscular tissue
 SKELETAL MUSCLE TISSUE
Attached to bones of the
skeleton
Have striations
Voluntary movement or
contractions by conscious control
Vary in length (up to 40 cm) and
are roughly cylindrical in shape
 MUSCULAR TISSUE
Cardiac Muscle Tissue
 Have striations
 Involuntary movement or
contraction is not
consciously controlled
 Intercalated disc unique
to cardiac muscle tissue
 SMOOTH MUSCLE TISSUE
Walls of hollow internal
structures
Blood vessels, airways of
lungs, stomach, and
intestines
Nonstriated
Usually involuntary control
 NERVOUS TISSUE
Consists of two
principle types of cells
Neurons or nerve cells
Neuroglia
 EXCITABLE CELLS
 Neurons and muscle fibers
 Exhibit electrical excitability
 The ability to respond to certain stimuli by producing electrical signals
such as action potentials
 Action potentials propagate along a nerve or muscle plasma membrane to
cause a response.
 Release of neurotransmitters
 Muscle contraction
 TISSUE REPAIR : RESTORING
HOMEOSTASIS
When tissue damage is intensive both stroma and parenchymal cells
are active in repair
 Fibroblast divide rapidly
 New collagen fibers are manufactures
 New blood capillaries supply materials for healing

 All of these process create an actively growing connective tissue called

granulation tissue
 AGING AND TISSUES
Tissue heal faster in young adults
Surgery of a fetus normally leaves no scars
Young tissues have a better nutritional state, blood
supply, and higher metabolic rate
Extracellular components also changes with age
Changes in the body’s use of glucose, collagen, and
elastic fibers contribute to the aging process.